Showcasing Eurasia at the UITP Global Public Transport Summit

The 64th UITP Global Public Transport Summit 2023 took place in Barcelona, bringing together the public transport community from 110 countries. This edition marked a significant milestone as the first global summit since the 2019 edition in Stockholm.

Attendees had the opportunity to delve into the latest innovations, cutting-edge technologies, exemplary case studies, and visionary projects. To explore further, we encourage you to read our news piece here and the Summit Wrap-up report here.

Eurasia was prominently represented at the summit, with over 60 delegates and 14 exhibitors coming from Armenia, Israel, Turkey, and Ukraine.

The event showcased a diverse range of best practices, covering various aspects of the industry. Engaging sessions included discussions on managing supply to meet demand (presented by Tali Arkushin, Israeli Ministry of Transport), the significance of contextual understanding and visibility in cybersecurity (led by Israel Baron, Cervello), designing business models for informal transport (highlighted by Büşra Buran, IETT), and promoting gender equality (emphasized by Özgür Soy, Metro Istanbul), among others.

The summit provided a dynamic platform for sharing knowledge, fostering collaboration, and driving progress in public transport across the Eurasian region.

UITP’s Eurasia division has undergone a recent restructuring, welcoming members from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, totaling nearly 70 companies.

The General Assembly and Global Transport Summit marked the beginning of the term for the new UITP President and working bodies, as well as inaugurating the term of the new Eurasian Chairman and Eurasia Board.

Mr. Özgür Soy, General Manager of Metro Istanbul, emerged victorious in the chairman elections held this March. His mandate for 2023-2025 was confirmed by the UITP General Assembly, and he will represent Eurasia on the UITP Executive and Policy Boards.

The newly formed Eurasia Board consists of the following members:

• Tali Arkushin, Director of Measurement, Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, Israel, Senior Vice-Chair
• Vusal Karimli, Chairman of the Board, Baku Transport Agency, Azerbaijan, Vice-Chair
• Sönmez Alev, Chairman of the Board, Metro İzmir, Türkiye, Vice-Chair
• Sadyr Khamraev, Director, Transport Holding of Almaty, Kazakhstan, Vice-Chair
• Georgy Sharkovi, Head, Tbilisi Transport Company, Georgia, Vice-Chair
• Hakan Kefoglu, Deputy General Manager, Anadolu ISUZU, Türkiye, Vice-Chair.

On June 4, the newly elected Eurasia Board convened for its inaugural meeting. The esteemed gathering was graced by the presence of Mohamed Mezghani, UITP Secretary General, and Kaan Yildizgoz, UITP Senior Director – Membership and Global Operations.

During the meeting, pertinent and pressing topics for the region were identified, including driver shortage, transport policy-making, the need to focus decision-makers on public transport challenges, organising collaboration with suppliers, and financing public transport projects.

The forthcoming on-site meeting is scheduled to take place in Istanbul in December 2023, with the generous invitation extended by the Chairman. This gathering will continue to foster collaboration and steer the future of public transport in the region.